Belleville may host a powerboat poker run this summer

By Tyson Leonard

Belleville may be close to hosting its first powerboat poker run in over 20 years.

Ryan Williams, president of Bay of Quinte Tourism, and a key organizer for the event said he is just waiting on final approval form the city of Belleville.

“The drivers come in from all across North America from as far as Texas, Louisiana, Miami, and they strut their stuff on the water,” said Bill Taylor, president of Poker Runs America.

A poker run can be held with any type of transportation but the one in Belleville would be a boating event. Boaters drive to each of the designated stops and collect a playing card. At the end of the event whoever has the best poker hand wins.

Williams will be at Belleville city council Monday to discuss the poker run.

Williams said after that he will be much closer to knowing whether the event will go ahead.

If the event is approved it will be held on July 27-28. Boats would leave Meyers Pier in Belleville Friday and make stops in Quinte West and Picton. On Saturday the boats will return to Belleville to wrap up the event.

Poker Runs America is the organizer of over 100 poker run events including the proposed event in Belleville this year.

The events help out local businesses and this year some of the proceeds will go to a charity, said Taylor.

“Part of the dollars of the event will go to Prostate Canada,” said Taylor.

Williams said the race would be a big tourism draw for Belleville.

“It’s a big benefit to this municipality for tourism expenditure and it’s money that’s an injection into the local economy,” said Williams.

Poker Runs are already scheduled this summer across Ontario, Quebec, and much of the United States.

“Its something that been very successful in Kingston, the Thousand Islands, Alexandria Bay, and cities all over the U.S,” said Williams.

If everything goes to plan, Belleville could become a go-to city to host the event.

“If we can get it back we’re hoping to get it here as a mainstay for at least the next five or six years,” said Williams.

Both Williams and Taylor said there won’t be any extra environmental precautions in effect. The boats will have to abide by already in place environmental and safety regulations.